Uprooted: W.C. Handy and Leadbelly + Music by Friends

Uprooted is a new series by Splendor musician River Adomeit centred on roots and folk music. The first edition is dedicated to two icons of the blues tradition: W.C. Handy and Leadbelly.

W.C. Handy was a musician, composer and publisher, and one of the great names in twentieth-century American popular music. His compositions include St. Louis Blues, Careless Love, The Memphis Blues and Atlanta Blues. He drew extensively from American folk melodies that also appear elsewhere in blues and folk, and is often called the "Father of the Blues". Huddie Ledbetter, better known as Leadbelly, was discovered by father-and-son ethnomusicologists John and Alan Lomax, who found him in the prison where he was then incarcerated. After his release, he made several recordings and performed regularly in New York City. Songs like Goodnight Irene, Pick a Bale of Cotton, Rock Island Line and Where Did You Sleep Last Night became world-famous through him.

The evening consists of two sets. In the first set, Siebren Smink performs a solo programme on guitar under the heading Music by Friends - nine pieces by fellow musicians and composers, each arranged for solo guitar. In the second set, Cem Karayalçin (guitar), France Amado (vocals) and River Adomeit (double bass) perform music by Handy and Leadbelly.